"Angels are Guardians of the Night" by Laura Frazier

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Treatment fails to stop some criminals

ANGELS ARE GUARDIANS OF THE NIGHT

Ineffective programs blamed for frequent arrests of addicts By PETER KORN The Tribune

part of a Metro public engagement program called Opt In. The Portland Tribune invites you to join the conversations on such issues as jobs, parks, transportation and the region’s economy. The Tribune and Community

Substance abuse and crime are like fast food and heart disease — everybody knows they’re connected, and experts think they know how dealing with one could help solve the other. But over time, nothing much changes. Consider Portland, where drug use is high and treatment options, even for the uninsured, are more available than in most cities. That might help explain a bit of good news/bad news data from a federal report on nationwide drug use. The Arrestee Drug Abuse and Monitoring report (also known as ADAM II) shows that people arrested in Portland have the highest rate of previous drug or alcohol treatment. In 2010, 41 percent of arrestees in Portland reported having been through inpatient — Steven Belenko, treatment. Temple University Thirty-eight percent reported having gone through outpatient treatment. Indianapolis, by comparison, had 11 percent and 23 percent of people arrested having been through inpatient and outpatient treatment, respectively. Minneapolis? Thirty-three percent and 26 percent. Sacramento? Twenty percent and 13 percent. The good news appears to be that we are providing more drug and alcohol treatment to the type of people who commit crimes. The bad news? Many of those people who received drug treatment continue to get arrested. A 1999 study found that na-

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■ Volunteers in red berets still a welcome presence in trouble spots Story by Laura Frazier Photos by Christopher Onstott

he jogger slows as she approaches the corner of Northwest Fifth Avenue and Davis Street, the sun falling behind the buildings in Old Town as evening nears. With her white cellphone in hand, she glances quizzically at the man in the Red Beret. “I didn’t know you guys still existed,” she says. Paul Grudzinski, leader of tonight’s five-person Portland Guardian Angels safety patrol, gives the woman a kind smile. “We’re still here,” he says. Even though they seem like a throwback to another, more dangerous time, Portland’s Guardian An-

gels see themselves as a deterrent to crime and a helping hand to vulnerable people. They’re on the street nearly every night as volunteers keeping an eye out for trouble. For 47-year-old Grudzinski, who gets by on his veteran’s benefits, the Angels are a way to keep alive what he learned during his — Paul military duty in Grudzinski, Iraq. Guardian Angel Jason Dorn, a single father of two, sacrificed his chance to join the military or police force, but patrolling with the Angels is how he recaptures that missing piece of service.

“This is something that has to be in your heart.”

TRIBUNE PHOTOS: CHRISTOPHER ONSTOTT

Portland Guardian Angels’ leader Paul Grudzinski (top) wears the group’s easily recognizable red beret and insignia when he patrols the city’s trouble spots with other members of the safety patrol group (above).

See ANGELS / Page 2

Metro’s Opt In survey gathers ideas ■ Public opinions in online program help guide regional agency decisions

By JIM REDDEN The Tribune What should Metro do with the thousands of acres of open spaces it has acquired in recent years — preserve them in their natural states or open them for activities such as hiking, biking,

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Local stories that you read about first at www.portlandtribune.com n NEWS — Bond could rebuild three high schools — Portland district looking at $482 million November bond measure. (Posted Tuesday, June 26) Search: Facilities. n Rose Quarter guard hit by fleeing SUV — Victim’s picture of hit-and-run suspect leads to arrest. (Posted Tuesday, June 26) Search: Forcia. n ENTERTAINMENT — 2012 Acura TSX Sport Wagon review — Practicality meets fun in a premium package. (Posted Friday, June 22) Search: Acura. n SPORTS — Adidas, Timbers pitch in to make ‘perfect’ match for Special Olympic soccer players — Rain doesn’t dampen day for Rose City Unity Match participants. (Posted Sunday, June 24) Search: Adidas.

walking and other recreation? The regional government’s elected leaders are considering that question as they ponder whether to put a property tax measure on the May 2013 ballot to maintain and improve the region’s 15,000 acres of natural areas. As they do so, Metro councilors

are reviewing the results of a recent online survey that says most respondents — nearly 80 percent — prefer preserving the existing quality of the areas, including their rivers, streams, wildlife and fish. If you missed that survey, you can take part in the next one — and all the others that will be conducted as

“People need multiple treatment episodes, and it can take several treatment experiences before someone really can achieve long-term abstinence.”

County gives asthma patients a breather State’s high rate of illness propels local life-saving efforts By STEVE LAW The Tribune Hserdoh’s lungs seemed fine back in her native Myanmar, and during her family’s subsequent sojourn in a Thai refugee camp. But the 7-year-old was beset by fits of coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing several months after her family resettled here, in a small apartment plagued by mold and cockroaches. A doctor ultimately diagnosed her with asthma, a chronic disease that afflicts one in 10 Multnomah County residents. TRIBUNE PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER ONSTOTT Last week, county community health nurse Diane Drum Deborah, a refugee from Myanmar now resettled in Gresham, gets a home lesson in using an inhaler to paid a visit to Hserdoh’s apart- deliver asthma medicine to her 7-year-old daughter Hserdoh. Multnomah County’s in-home program has ment in the Rockwood neigh- resulted in fewer emergency-room visits for children with asthma. borhood near Gresham, as part of the county’s in-home pro- Drum says. “We can prevent mother was confused about previously dispatched someone gram for children with asthma. children from dying of asthma.” how to administer the multiple to the apartment to eradicate “We don’t know what causes It was Drum’s second visit, medications that can help her the cockroaches and deliver a asthma, but we do know how to and she was anxious to return daughter breathe easier, and vacuum cleaner with an adprevent its complications,” after hearing that Hserdoh’s even save her life. The county vanced HEPA filter to control

dust. Asthma is an inflammation of the airways, says Drum, who has visited more than 500 homes since the county launched the first of three inhome asthma care programs in 2006. People can inherit asthma at birth or develop it at any time, much like an allergy. Asthma attacks can be triggered by a host of factors, and each sufferer is different. One person might start wheezing because of mold and dust mites, while another may have shortness of breath from running or be triggered by lemon-scented air fresheners. If the asthma attacks constrict airways, people can stop breathing and die in about four minutes.

Preventable deaths Deaths from asthma in Oregon ranged from 47 to 78 per year in the prior decade, according to The Burden of Asthma, a report issued by the Oregon Health Authority in December 2010. One of seven Oregon asthma sufferers wound up in an emergency room due to an asth-

See Asthma / Page 7

A2 NEWS

The Portland Tribune Thursday, June 28, 2012

Angels: Patrols keep an eye on MAX lines ■ From page 1 McKenna Dorn, 19, is the only woman in the group and worries she’s the weakest, but she hopes walking with the Angels will make her stronger. Juan Moreno, who says his three daughters were molested by their stepfather, patrols with the Angels as a way to offer the protection to others he couldn’t give his girls. The local Angels started patrolling in 1983, when crime rates were much higher. With only about five violent crimes per 1,000 Portlanders a year, Oregon’s largest city doesn’t seem like a likely candidate for citizen patrol groups. The Angels know that too. In the past year, the Angels have stopped only a handful of crimes. In January, they chased down a teen with a pellet gun who was getting off a MAX train by Holladay Park and helped identify him for the police. About two months ago, they tackled a suspected drug dealer in Old Town and restrained him until the police arrived and made an arrest.

Meaning and purpose Deterrence is what they’re hoping to achieve, but it can be hard to measure. The Angels say their work is 99 percent boring, and 1 percent exciting, but each has his or her reason for TRIBUNE PHOTOs: CHRISTOPHER ONSTOTT still being on the street in the Paul Grudzinski waits to ride a MAX train to Gresham during the several nights when Guardian Angels patrol the transit line. Grudzinski doesn’t carry a weapon when he patrols on red beret. At 16, Grudzinski read an ar- the MAX, and only carries handcuffs. ticle about a Guardian Angel who was killed while on patrol feel most useful. On a Friday in New York, and knew he evening halfway to Gresham, a wanted to join forces with citi- woman hoists a stroller that holds her baby on to the MAX, The Guardian Angels say if they witness a crime, they zens who fight crime. will make a citizen’s arrest and contact police. He was young and struggling and asks the Angels, “Who do But one man’s citizen’s arrest could be another man’s kidnapin school, and the new Portland you guys work for?” Grudzinski says he gets this ping. Guardian Angels chapter a lot, and explains that though According to Thaddeus Betz, an attorney with Metropolitan seemed like a perfect fit. Public Defender, shopkeepers hold people against their will all “It gave me a meaning and a this is the woman’s first time seeing them, they are out riding the time when they think they’ve caught a thief. But they operpurpose,” he says. the MAX most ate under a different state statute often referred to as the “ShopBut as sure as days of the week. keeper’s privilege.” he was about beA few weeks Betz and police officials agree that anyone making a citizen’s ing a Guardian ago, Grudzinski arrest in Portland must see the crime committed and have probAngel, Grudzinski and the crew were able cause to believe it was a crime. With those hurdles cleared, says his family on patrol when an they’re not kidnapping somebody when they detain them on a wasn’t supportive. elderly woman in a citizen’s arrest — probably even if they’re wrong, says Betz. His father died motorized wheelAnd yes, the arresting citizen can use reasonable force or when Grudzinski handcuffs. was 5, and he lived — McKenna Dorn, chair was getting Guardian Angels member Juan Moreno keeps an eye on an Old Town “It’s a subjective standard,” he says. with his older sisGuardian Angel off the MAX. She corner, a place the group frequently patrols. Moreno commutes from was toting a bag of Forest Grove to volunteer with the Angels. Citizen’s arrests are infrequent in Portland, says Portland Poter. She thought prescription pills, lice Bureau spokesman Robert King, but an incident two weeks the Angels were ago illustrates the dangers. too dangerous. Once he turned and told Grudzinski she was he is concerned about germs, “We’re just out here to make At the Pioneer Courthouse Square MAX station, an 18-year18, Grudzinski moved into an just on her way back from the and joins the other Angels in people feel safe,” she says. old man allegedly grabbed a phone from a woman’s hand and apartment and got a job as a Veterans’ Administration Hos- wearing black gloves while on Juan Moreno, 53, is walking pital. But it was late at night patrol. Like all the Angels, he is tonight because he feels he has ran, King says. Five or six people chased the man and knocked bouncer at a local nightclub. him to the ground, holding him until police arrived. Grudzinski wanted to see and she was nervous, stuck unarmed, carrying only hand- a debt to pay. The alleged thief was arrested and charged with third-degree more of what the Angels had to without a way to get to her cuffs that he’s never used and a Moreno has three daughters, robbery. offer, and spent the next five house. flashlight for night patrols. He and says that their stepfather The Angels escorted her says it’s “glorifying” to not car- “did the unthinkable,” sexually King warns that citizen’s arrests are successful when done by years patrolling everywhere groups of people, and they can be risky. An offender might not from Chicago to San Francisco home. ry a weapon. molesting them after Moreno “This is something that has understand that he is being legally “arrested” by a citizen, and and Palo Alto. It was a tough “I have no desire to carry a and his wife divorced in 1990. he or she might be armed. King urges citizens to call 9-1-1 when time, he says, and he slept wher- to be in your heart,” Grudzinski gun,” Dorn says. Unable to protect his girls, he they see a crime in progress, instead of jumping in to subdue a ever he could find space in the says. Riding the MAX, the Angels is making up for it by trying to Seeing Grudzinski and the stand out in their red and white protect others. He’s been with suspect. local Guardian Angel headquar— Laura Frazier ters, even if it meant rats might Angels in uniform on the MAX T-shirts and berets, prompting the Portland Angels chapter six months ago inspired Jason a curious look from a man in a since September, coming all the crawl over him in the night. Grudzinski has helped revive Dorn to join. security guard uniform getting way in from Forest Grove to paZimmerman, a member of a He’d always wanted to be off the train. With 130 chapters in more the Portland chapter since he trol after work. Sanford, Fla., neighborhood than 17 countries, the Angels took it over three years ago. He part of the military or the po“I remember these guys from ‘Keep it up’ watch group, shot unarmed have expanded since the first remembers when he patrolled lice, but at 42, he’s says it’s too 30 years ago,” he says. Portland Police Bureau teen Trayvon Martin. Zimmer- chapter was founded in New alone. Now there are eight An- late. When he was younger, Dorn’s oldest daughter, McKDorn says he had a more press- enna, started patrolling with spokesman Robert King says man was acting under Florida’s York City in 1979. In Portland, gels in Portland. Five to six times a week, the ing set of responsibilities, like her father about three months the police appreciate the Guard- Stand Your Ground law, which Grudzinski says his goal is to group patrols on foot through taking care of his two young ago. She’s the only female ian Angles’ efforts to keep an allows someone to use deadly get his eight-person force up to Old Town and Chinatown, and daughters. Guardian Angel in Portland, eye on crime in the community, force if they feel threatened. On 10. Dorn says he has been a sin- and just graduated from Heri- but can only recall one incident April 11, a special prosecutor Each Angels chapter is inderides the blue line MAX to gle parent since splitting with tage High School in Vancouver, in which the Angels helped of- filed second-degree murder pendent but complies with Gresham. ficers. charges against Zimmerman. standards set by the national Grudzinski, a U.S. Army vet- his wife 13 years ago. With his Wash. Mike Boyer, crime prevention Grudzinski says that since Alliance of the Guardian Aneran who served in Iraq, says daughters now 17 and 19, he has She’s about 5-foot-1 with long war heightened his awareness the time to be a Guardian An- amber hair. She feels vulnera- coordinator for the downtown, the Florida shooting people gels. After close to three hours on and focus, and patrolling with gel. ble, and wonders if she could be Old Town, Pearl District and have been suspicious of the AnHe patrols close to six times a overpowered or pulled to the Chinatown neighborhoods, says gels, asking if they are like Zim- a MAX train, the Angels return the Guardian Angels is how he it’s nice to have the Angels on merman’s neighborhood watch to Theo’s restaurant downtown, week, often after a 10-hour shift ground by her ponytail. hangs onto that skill. their usual hangout, and take a “This is almost therapy for at work as a security guard for Nervous and working not to the lookout, but doesn’t ap- group. Grudzinski says the Angels coffee-filled break. After midme,” he says. “I get to release Louis Vuttion and Gucci in show it, McKenna has yet to go prove of their willingness to downtown Portland’s Pioneer on her first nighttime patrol. confront people they think are work together to keep each night, a middle-aged man casuthat energy.” other from losing their tempers ally walks in. He recognizes the Place. But she has dreams of joining committing crimes. No weapons on patrol Neighborhood watch groups and acting rashly, and that the Angels right away, and thanks Dorn, bulky and with a com- the Navy, and hopes the selfRiding the MAX line late at manding presence, is the most confidence boost from the An- have been in the national spot- Angels can lose their right to them for what they do. night is often where the Angels intimidating of the group. But gels will help her. light since Feb. 26, when George patrol if they get out of line. “Keep it up,” he says.

Citizen’s arrests can be tricky

“We’re just out here to make people feel safe.”

County listens for good ideas on library district Sessions gauge support for planned ballot measure By STEVE LAW The Tribune Multnomah County commissioners have scheduled five “listening” sessions to hear public views about a potential library district, which would raise property taxes

Portland Tribune Closer to home.

while providing more stable funding for county libraries. Commissioners are pondering whether to place a library district measure before voters in November of this year or in 2014, and have tentatively agreed to make the decision on Aug. 2. The listening sessions take place 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the following libraries: n July 2, Central Library, 801 S.W. 10th Ave. n July 10, Gresham, 385 N.W. Miller Ave.

n July 12, North Portland, 512 N. Killingsworth St. n July 17, Hillsdale, 1525 S.W. Sunset Blvd. n July 19, Hollywood, 4040 N.E. Tillamook St. The potential library district would bill property owners a maximum of $1.22 in property taxes for each $1,000 in assessed value. That’s $183 for owners of a home assessed at $150,000, the county median for tax valuation. Half would pay more and half would pay less.

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A library district would have ongoing authority to collect property taxes dedicated to libraries, replacing a series of temporary property tax levies that provide the bulk of library funding. A district also would free up money in the county general fund that has supplemented the levies. The current five-year levy, which expires June 30, charges property owners a maximum of 89 cents for each $1,000 in assessed property value, or up to $133 for owners of a home as-

sessed at $150,000. Multnomah County voters overwhelmingly agreed to renew the levy another three years in May. County commissioners balked at putting the library district before voters in May due to tepid polling, but promised library boosters they’d put the district on the November ballot once the levy was renewed. The levy renewal leaves the libraries short of funds to cover inflation and the cost to operate

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The Portland Tribune strives for accuracy. Please contact Managing Editor Kevin Harden at 503-546-5167 or kharden@portlandtribune.com, if you see an error.

J. Brian Monihan, Advertising Sales Vice President, bmonihan@portlandtribune.com West Portland: Laura Davis, 503-546-9896 East Portland: Tamara Hollenbeck, 503-546-9894 Cheryl DuVal, Manager, Creative services cherylduval@portlandtribune.com

n A June 21 Portland Tribune story on the Northwest Academy and growth of other independent schools listed the Catlin Gabel School’s recent grant award incorrectly. The school received a grant of $200,000 from the Collins Foundation.

newer branches, so library hours will be cut. If approved in November, a library district would double the property taxes collected for libraries, while reducing property taxes for other services, including city of Portland levies. That’s because voter-approved tax limitations don’t permit the county to collect more than a third of the authorized levy amount, but a district has a higher priority for tax collections.